Presidency University Vice Chancellor Anuradha Lohia remained under gherao by protesting students since last evening, putting a question mark over its third convocation ceremony scheduled for later in the day.
Following allegations of police assault on students protesting during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to the campus yesterday, a section of students gheraoed the VC demanding her resignation.
The gherao went on the whole night as students refused to let Lohia leave her office room which was filled with anti-administration slogans and posters.
Walls and even her nameplate outside the room was vandalised by the students.
During the night, registrar and other senior officials of the university were also present along with Lohia.
“It is not just about the Chief Minister’s visit yesterday and the following police assault on our students but the VC has failed on a number of accounts in the past also. So we have decided to not let her leave the campus till she resigns,” said Trisha Chanda, general secretary of the students union.
The gherao also throws shadow over the state-run varsity’s third convocation ceremony scheduled for later in the evening. Many of the students have called for a boycott of the convocation.
When contacted, Lohia said she will ensure that the convocation ceremony goes on smoothly.
“Let them boycott but we will give degrees to our students. We have not done anything wrong to them. On the other hand we have always worked hard to take Presidency to newer heights. I do not understand what the problem is for these students. It is just a small group of students who are creating the problem,” the VC said.
